💰 BNA’s plans to make money from the Tesla tunnel

🎵 Musician’s Corner Kicks Off Aug. 29

For 15 years, Musician’s Corner has brought an all-star lineup of artists to Centennial Park for a series of free concerts twice a year. On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, we’re talking with its executive producer about this year’s lineup, and how the festival endures. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

✈️ Airport Proposes Annual Tunnel Fee

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority has proposed charging The Boring Company a $1.7 million annual licensing fee for its Tesla tunnel. The amount is based on the estimated square footage of airport property the tunnel would occupy, multiplied by the same $2.47-per-square-foot charge other tenants pay. [🔒 Nashville Business Journal]

• How similar tunnels have impacted Las Vegas [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏗️ East Bank Scrapyard Deal’s Perfect Timing

While local leaders and investors have been trying to sell the large scrapyard on the Cumberland River for years, its recent $245 million purchase has come at the perfect time, with multiple East Bank projects on the horizon. [The Tennessean]

• The owners are in talks with the Titans about using the scrapyard as parking for the new stadium. [🔒 Nashville Business Journal]

🧑‍🎓 MNPS Students Earn Full-Ride Scholarships

Through the new Nashville Vanderbilt Scholars program, 49 local public school students earned full-ride scholarships to Vanderbilt University, and started college this week. Many of the students are the first in their families to attend college, and describe wanting to give back to their communities and explore their dreams. [The Tennessean]

Speedway Motorsports Inc. has signed an agreement with the Nashville laborers union to renovate the Fairgrounds Speedway in hopes of bringing back NASCAR, though Mayor O’Connell’s office says there’s no deal on the table. I asked for readers’ opinions about whether you want NASCAR at the Fairgrounds, and y’all had a lot to say. Here are excerpts from the dozens of emails I received from subscribers.

“If there is no financial obligation and we can use the infrastructure we have in place, … why not bring NASCAR back to the fairgrounds? We spent public money for the NFL Stadium. Sounds like we would spend less money to bring the racing back.” — William T.

“My family have been supporters of the race track since I was very young, and, even though I haven't been to a race in a long time, I know that for many, many people, the track is a core part of the Nashville lifestyle. These may also be the very people who feel left out of a lot of the new Nashville venues and events.” — Marijo C.

“The track is 500 feet from our neighborhood’s elementary school … and a quarter mile from Vine Hill’s senior tower! It’s surrounded by 100,000 residents within a mile from the track. There is not adequate parking for multi-day NASCAR events. … The majority of race fans can’t or won’t pay for high-priced hotels in the city. … This is bad for our neighborhood and us residents.” — Kyle F.

“Really loud entertainment belongs on the outskirts of town, not smack in the middle of dense premium housing.” — John B.

“Middle Tennessee already has the Nashville Superspeedway, located just 36 miles away in Wilson County, built on 1,200 acres of open land, far from dense residential neighborhoods. So do we need another one in the middle of the city? NO!” — Frank E.

“Well over 100,000 pounds of pollutants/carbon dioxide are released during each NASCAR speedway weekend.” — Alan F.

“Recent polling shows Nashvillians overwhelmingly want alternatives for the site at the fairgrounds: More green space, affordable/attainable housing, and restoration of Brown’s Creek. A new coalition is calling for a referendum to let voters decide. What’s one more year to decide on a project that could burden Nashville for decades with noise, pollution, and a 30-year loan for auto racing?” — Tessa F.

“The Speedway site could help us meet urgent needs for affordable housing and space for artists — the very people who built Nashville’s reputation as a creative capital.” — Heidi